Painting with a Purpose

Today’s task was to write about a band/artist whose music impacted your life. If you know me even a little bit, then you know that band is Sister Hazel. However, I’m not going to write about this topic today. I’m going to save it and combine it with Day 23’s topic of describe a truly spiritual moment in your life. When that day rolls around, it will be very clear why I needed to combine these two into one. Now there is another reason I don’t want to write about today’s topic and that’s because I’m dying to share something else with you.

I saw an advertisement recently for a new business opening up in Tampa called Painting with a Twist. The concept is way fun and super cool. I immediately wanted to sign up for a class but never quite had the time between Rock Boating and recovering from Rock Boating. Well, a couple of days ago I saw that they were hosting a fundraiser for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and they were calling it Painting with a Purpose. And then I saw what we would be painting.
Ok people, it doesn’t get more perfect for me so I signed up and invited my mom to join me.

We arrived to a room full of people ready to go. We picked up our aprons and canvases and found our seats just in time to hear all about what our ‘purpose’ was. The proceeds from today’s class would go to the Humane Society’s February event to helps spay and neuter cats in the Tampa Bay area. PURRFECT! I was motivated and ready to paint. Oh and did I mention how terrified I was at the same time?

A few years ago I decided my mom, the painter/artist, needed to be painting. She had not done so in years and I thought she could use the creative outlet. I signed us up for a painting class at Michaels. I had never held a paint brush in my hand before and was pretty darn sure this was going to be a complete and utter embarrassment on my part but I wanted to be there for her. We took the class and lo and behold, my painting turned out OK. And then we took another class and that painting is now hanging in my sister’s house (or it was before they moved, not sure if it still is). I’m just saying, it wasn’t horrendous. Who knew?!? I certainly never in a million years imaged I was slightly capable of putting paint on a canvas and producing something pretty to look at.

Today was the first time since that second class years ago that I put paint to canvas. I was actually very nervous about today’s class. I cannot draw. I know this to be a fact. I have tried and it’s just bad. I knew this class was going to require some minute ability to draw and I was sure this was going to be my downfall. Little did I know but our instructor today is also an illustrator. An animal illustrator at that. She was able to guide us along using shapes, very simple circles, ovals, triangles and slightly bent rectangles. I know it’s hard to see in this picture but this is the outline of what will become my cat. It is nothing more than a series of shapes draw ever so lightly in pencil.

After I jumped right over that drawing hurdle, it was smooth sailing all the way til the end. Here are a couple of shots of us in action.
It still completely blows me away that I’m capable of this. I know this is not gallery worthy and that I’m a long way from being an artist but I’m very happy with what I did today. I was reluctant to do it because of one tiny bit that intimidated me but I didn’t let it stop me. I dove right in, head first. (If you are interested in seeing more photos of our experience, visit my album on Facebook)

I’m reminded of several conversations Gil and I have had recently about this blog-off we have going on. I have wanted to put my thoughts into words for a long time but I was scared. He encouraged me to just do it and I have been having so much fun ever since. Just like with the class today. I’m starting to learn some things about myself, which is great when you consider I started this blog as a tool to help me discover my authentic self. What I’m finding is that there is a lot more to me than I thought there was. I think I’m going to make 2011 the year of “Finding leelee”. This is going to be the year I tear down the walls of fear and uncertainty to discover exactly what lies beneath?

Peggy, thanks for checking out my blog today. I have to say that Painting with a Twist is certainly one of my new favorite places and I can’t wait to get back in there. I love that Leslie and Marvin are doing the Painting with a Purpose days. I’ll make an effort to attend each of those at a minimum. I’m afraid I didn’t get to meet or really interact with Toby but I did love Joanna as an instructor.

Hi Paula, thanks for stopping by to check out my blog. And thank you for such a nice compliment. I’m happy with the painting and I guess that’s what really counts. I bet you could paint just like that in one of these classes. I love how they break everything down into tiny little segments. They make it easy to be good. 🙂